Patent · US Expired

Flats pieces singulation apparatus

US5360316A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
14References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1991
Grant dateNov 1, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H5/224
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A flats singulation apparatus includes a input buffer section having a substantially horizontal ramp which is adapted to support thereon a stack of flats mailpieces on edge. The buffer section includes a moving belt and ram plate for moving the stack of flat pieces toward the front end of the ramp. A transfer section is at the end of the ramp and is adapted to remove the flat pieces substantially one at a time from the ramp and drop them downwardly. The transfer section includes a plurality of edge rollers extending across the end of the ramp and adapted to move the flat pieces from the stack, and a ledge plate extending downwardly from the edge rollers and having a horizontal ledge onto which the flat pieces drop. A pusher shelf is movable across the ledge to push the flat pieces off of the shelf. A separation section extends substantially horizontally across the end of the transfer section and includes means for moving the flat pieces away from the transfer section and separating flat pieces.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.